Littler, 45 next month, has extensive coaching experience since completing an outstanding 19-year playing career. He was appointed assistant and then head coach to Swinton Lions, then head coach at Oldham combining a similar role with the Ireland international team.
Littler will form an impressive coaching link up with Kieron Purtill whose role as Head of Youth has been vital in establishing a clear pathway for the development of aspiring players.
As a strong running, forceful and creative centre with a fine defensive game, Littler enjoyed a long and successful playing career, chalking up 520 senior appearances and scoring 187 tries. He earned Leigh Heritage Number HN#1342, scoring 32 tries in 101 games between 2011 and 2014 for his hometown club and called time on his playing career after two seasons with Swinton.
After making his professional debut for Salford in 1998, he went on to make 329 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 113 tries. He also won 21 international caps for Ireland between 2004-2016 before becoming their head coach between 2018-2022.
An overview of the stadium before the game began. Football in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League between Manchester United and West Ham United Women will take place on May 1, 2022, at Leigh Sports Village in Leigh, UK. Football at Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, UK; Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Manchester United Women and West Ham United Women, May 1, 2022
With its women’s division, Leigh Leopards are expanding the club as well. Mairead Quinn will once again serve as captain of the 30-man strong team that head coach Kieron Purtill has assembled.
The Leopards Women enjoyed a fine inaugural season in 2023, and just missed out on a place in Super League. After Barrow Raiders won the promotion grand final at York, the Leopards will compete in tier two of the Women’s Championship, The Northern Women’s Championship.
Nine teams made up the Northern Championship with only the Leopards and Salford Red Devils from this side of the Pennines. Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers, Dewsbury Moor, Hull KR, Oulton Raidettes, Sheffield Eagles and Stanningley make up the Yorkshire challenge.
The Championship season starts on the first weekend of March. Full fixtures and venues will be announced shortly.
Round 18 of the Championship season marks the beginning of the postseason play-offs.
The top four teams compete in 1v4 and 2v3 matches in Week One, with the winners moving on to Week 2’s Northern Championship Grand Final.
The Northern Championship Grand Final winners take on the Southern Championship Grand Final winners in Week 3. On Saturday, September 28, this match will take place for the title of national champion.
The national winners from Week 3 will play the lowest team in Super League in Week 4 of the season to earn a spot in Super League in 2025.
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